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The South African Communist Party (SACP) has rejected any suggestions that the decision to contest by-elections in the Metsimaholo Local Municipality in the Free State is an attempt to test waters ahead of the 2019 general elections.
No political party won a majority of the vote in Metsimaholo Municipality after last year’s fiercely contested local government elections, forcing parties to enter into a power-sharing deal.
The coalition government was dissolved in July after it failed to adopt its 2017/18 budget and later on when its then mayor, Sello Hlasa, defected from Metsimaholo Community Association to the African National Congress (ANC).
The elections will be held on Wednesday.
